By Frank Lockwood @ http://www.biblebeltblogger.com/biblebelt/2007/01/what_do_you_giv.html
If the evangelist is Kenneth Copeland and it's his 70th birthday, you give him one of those oversized cardboard checks -- with a seven-digit dollar figure.
Happy Caldwell, pastor of Little Rock's Agape Church, said fellow evangelists chipped in $2.1 million and presented Copeland with the gift on Thursday night in Texas. Caldwell told the story during this morning's service, moments before collecting an offering. An audible gasp went up when Caldwell revealed the size of the present. Caldwell didn't say how much Agape Church had kicked in.
Kenneth Copeland and his wife Gloria were apparently delighted with the outpouring. "They were speechless," Caldwell said. "That's about a million dollars apiece."
Copeland's son spearheaded the fundraising gift. Caldwell said Copeland deserves the money because he's been generous with the millions he receives in tax-deductible contributions. "When you're a heroic giver, eventually you're going to be a heroic receiver."
So does Copeland, who is already fabulously wealthy, need additional cash? "Need doesn't have anything to do with it. He doesn't need it," Caldwell told the crowd. "It has to do with sowing seed."
Copeland and Caldwell both teach that Christians who "sow seeds" by giving money to Christian ministries are rewarded by God exponentially. Caldwell assured worshippers that if they give tithes, offerings, pledges and vows to his church, they'll be making a wise economic investment.
Afterwards, people held their envelopes heavenward as Caldwell prayed over their gifts.
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